Trestle or platform attachment for ladders



No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. J. NOLTON.

TRESTLE 0R PLATFORM ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS.

No. 271,509. T Patented Jan.3-0,1883.-

n. PETKRS. Phflp-Ullmyipim, wmingm. 0.0.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. J. NOLTON.

TRESTLE 0R PLATFORM ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS.

No. 271,509. Patented Jan.30, 1883.

I Int/e410?" UNTTED STATES PATENT OEETQE.

THOMAS J. NOLTON, OF LAKE CITY, OOLORADO.

TRESTLE ORPLATFORM ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,509, dated January 30, 1883,

Application filed October 9, 1882. (No model.)

Toall whom it may concern -Be it known that I, THOMAS J. NoL'loN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lake Gity','in the county of Hinsdale and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful 1mprovements in Trestle or Platform Attachments for Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a trestle or plat form attachment for ladders designed for use in painting houses, the construction of houses, and other purposes where an elevated platform or stand is desired for a workman or workmen to stand or sit upon.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple but substantial attachment, capable of being connected with and supported by the rounds of an ordinary ladder, which will afford a support or stand for a workman, and which is capable of such adjustment that the'ladder can be placed in an inclined position while the stand or support of the attachment will stand in a perfectly horizontal position. The trestle or platform is of such construction that by the employment of two of the same with two ladders, one secured to each of the latter, and the arrangement of such ladders at suitable distances apart, a support for a plank or planks is obtained to provide a scafl'old on which workmen can stand or sit in painting the fronts of houses and in performing other work where a scaffold is essential.

The objects of my invention I accomplish by the construction of devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a rear perspective view of my improved trestle or platform attachment, and Fig.2 a side elevation of the same applied to a ladder.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe the construction and operation of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which the number 1 indicates a narrow board, which serves as a stand or support for the workman, or one end of a plank, if a seatfold is to be constructed. This board is hinged near its rear end to a board or sustaining-base, 2, through the medium of suitable. hinges, 3, such board or sustaining-base being designed to rest between the side bars of a ladder, and being provided with books 4, or other suitable devices to engage or interlock with one of the rounds 5 of a ladder, and the rear face of the base-board is also furnished with depending curved arms 6, which engagewit-h another one of the ladder-rounds, 5, so that such round lies between the board and said arms, all as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the attachment is rigidly connected with the ladder and prevented from tipping or otherwise becoming disarranged. The outer or front end of the stand or support 1 is connected with the outer lower end of the base or sustaining board 2 through the medium of two brace arms or bars, 7 and 8,which arejointed together at their adjacent ends, as at 9, and at their other ends are pivoted respectively by pins or pintles 10, within bifurcated brackets 11 and 12, secured to the sustaining-base and the stand or platform. To the brace arms or bars 7 and 8 are pivoted o1 hinged, by pins or pintles 13, one end of two links, 14 and 15, which are united at their other ends by a cross-pin, 16, this connection being such as to leave a space between the two links, where they are jointed together, for the purpose of permitting a locking-rod, 17, to enter between them and engage with the cross-pin. This locking-rod 17 is hinged at its lower end to the pin or pintle 9, which connects the lower ends of the brace arms or bars, on which pinorpintle it is adapted to swing so that one of the notches or recesses 18 in its.

under edge, 19, can be caused to interlock with the cross-pin 16, as before stated. In order to retain the locking-bar in engagement with the cross-pin, and thereby retain the structure in a rigid position, so that the stand or platform 1 is incapable of descending or approaching the base-board when in use, I provide the link 15 with a series of perforations, 20, into which a split spring-pin, 21, can be placed, so as to rest against the front edge, 22, of the lockingbar, and thereby prevent it from moving forward or away from the cross-pin 16.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated the ladder as standing in a vertical position and the trestle or platform attachment so adjusted that the stand 1 is at right angles to the ladder and in a horizontal position. If the ladder should be placed in an inclined position it becomes necessary to adjust the stand 1 so that it will still maintain its horizontal position; and to permit this, all that is essential is to remove the spring-pin 21, disengage the locking-rod from the cross-pin 16, and then swing the stand 1 downward or upward, as required, to bring it into the desired horizontal position, after which another one of the recesses or notches in the locking-rod is caused to engage the cross-pin and the spring-pin again adjusted to hold such bar in position. In swinging the stand 1 to adjust it, the links 14 and 15 at their united ends move toward and from the ladder, and, in connection with the brace arms or bars, form a contrivance similar to toggle mechanism, which is rigidly confined in its adjusted position by the locking-bar.

It will be obvious that by the employment of two ladders, each carrying one of the attachments, and arranged at a suitable distance apart, a scafl'old can be constructed by arranging a plank or planks so as to be supported at each end by one of the stands 1; and, in order to prevent such plank or planks from accidentally slipping from the forward end of the stand, I provide the latter with a standard, 23, which detachably fits in a recess or aperture in the stand.

\Vhile I have shown a particular kind of pivot or hinge for the respective parts, I do not confine myself thereto, as any suitable kind of hinges or pivots can be employed, and the locking-bar can be held in its locked position by means other than a spring-pin. The construction of parts shown, however, provides a strong and efiieielit attachment, capable of the required adjustment, and will be found to afi'ord perfect security when used by painters or other workmen.

The parts can be composed of any material suitable for the purpose, and when not in use can be folded together into .a compact form.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A trestle or platform attachment, composed of a stand or support and a sustainingbase suitably hinged or pivoted together, a toggle mechanism connecting the outer portions of the stand or support and the base, and a locking device which engages the toggle mechanism and locks and rigidly holds the latter when moved to bring the stand or platform in the required position relative to its sustaining-base, substantially as described.

2. A trestle or platform attachment for ladders, composed essentially of a stand or support, a sustaining-base suitably hinged thereto and provided with means to connect it with a ladder, a toggle mechanism joining the outer ends of the stand or support and the sustaining-base, and a device which engages the toggle mechanism and locks and rigidly holds the latter when the stand or support is brought to the required position relative to the supporting-base, substantially as described.

3. In a trestle or platform, the combination of a support and a sustaining-base suitably hinged together, and connected at their outer portions by a toggle mechanism, with a locking-bar arranged to engage and rigidly lock the toggle mechanism when thestand or support is brought to the required position relative to the sustaining-base, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a stand or support, a sustainingbase suitably hinged thereto and provided with devices to connect itwith a ladder, pivoted brace arms or bars connecting the' outer portions of the stand or support and the base, pivoted links connecting the brace arms or bars intermediate their length, and a locking-bar i'or rigidly holding the arms or bars and the links in fixed relative positions, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a. stand or support and a sustaining-base united by suitablehinges, devices for attaching the same to the rounds of a ladder, pivoted brace-arms connecting the outer portions of the stand or support and the base, pivoted links connecting the brace-arms, and apivoted notched locking-bar for rigidly holding the arms and the links in fixed relative positions, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS J.

\Vitnesses:

J ESSE BELL, H. L. FRANKLIN.

NOLTON. [[..S.] 

